Tributes to local legend who spent his entire life living and working in Sheffield suburb

Brian Platts was born at Main Street in old Hackenthorpe in 1933, well before the modern housing estate was built around the few streets that made up the ancient village.

Over the course of nine decades he never left the area, living with his wife on the same street he grew up on, working at Staniforth Works and ending his days at Hutton Croft.

He died peacefully in Northern General Hospital on February 10.

Brian’s daughter, Jillian, aged 52, said her dad was a huge part of the history of the village.

She said: “He was a real character. With a really broad Sheffield accent which people couldn’t understand. He used to say ‘watter’ and ‘favva’.

“Loads of people have been putting nice things on Facebook and we are hoping the funeral is a really nice celebration of his life. 87 years is a long time.”

After marrying in 1959, Brian moved into a house on Main Street, staying there for 60 years and witnessing the transformation of the area from tiny village to sprawling city suburb.

“He really didn’t want to move but we managed to get him into a bungalow up the road,” said Jillian.

“He loved animals and had chickens in his garden and had three dogs - two dachshunds Gretel and Macco and a cross-breed Max.

“Max and Macco used to wait for him at the door so he would take them to the pub.”

Brian was one of four children, with only his twin brother Bruce now left after Roy died in 2003 and Molly passed away in 2012.

Later in life he was a keen bingo player and organised the Hutton Croft bingo club, where he was the only male player.

As well as Jillian, Brian also leaves his other daughter Beverley, his partner Mary Littlewood, and two grandchildren, Finlay and Ella.

Brian’s funeral will take place at Christ Church in Hackenthorpe at 12noon on Friday, March 6.

All are welcome but donations to Kidney Care UK and the British Lung Foundation are requested in lieu of flowers.